Play back terminal recordings over SSH

Tailpipe is an SSH server that streams prerecorded terminal sessions. Your users SSH in, watch the show, and interact with playback controls.


          

        


        

          Get Started
          
            
            View on GitHub
          
        

      

    


    
    

      

        
Features

        
Everything you need to serve interactive terminal demos.


        

          

            

              
            

            
SSH Native

            
No browser needed. Connect with any SSH client and start watching immediately.

          

          

            

              
            

            
Asciinema Playback

            
Plays back .cast files in asciinema v2 and v3 formats with frame-accurate timing.

          

          

            

              
            

            
Multi-User

            
Configure different recordings per SSH username with a default fallback for unknown users.

          

          

            

              
            

            
Simple Config

            
One TOML file configures everything — cast files, headers, footers, and per-user overrides.

          

          

            

              
            

            
Headers & Footers

            
Bookend recordings with branded intro and outro sequences. Disable per-user as needed.

          

          

            

              
            

            
Pure Rust

            
Built with russh, tokio, and ratatui. Async, fast, and memory-safe.

          

        

      

    


    
    

      

        
Interactive Playback

        
Pause, seek, and navigate recordings with keyboard controls.


        

          

            

              Space
              Pause / Resume
            

            

              ←
              →
              Seek ±5 seconds
            

            

              o
              Toggle overlay
            

            

              q
              Quit
            

          


          

            
▮▮ PAUSED

            
01:23 / 02:34

            

              spacepause/resume
              <-/->seek ±5s
              otoggle overlay
              qquit
            

          

        

      

    


    
    

      

        
Configure in seconds

        
One TOML file is all you need.


        

          

            

              

              

              

              tailpipe.toml
            

            
[server]
port = 4242
host_key = "/etc/tailpipe_ed25519.key"
header = "/srv/casts/header.cast"
footer = "/srv/casts/footer.cast"

# SSH in as demo@ to see demo.cast
[user.demo]
castfile = "/srv/casts/demo.cast"

# SSH in as custom@ to see custom.cast
[user.custom]
castfile = "/srv/casts/custom.cast"
header = "none"
footer = "none"

# fallback for unknown usernames
[user.default]
castfile = "/srv/casts/default.cast"

          


          

            

              
Optional host key

              
Generates an ephemeral ed25519 key if you don't provide one. Great for development.

            

            

              
Per-user recordings

              
Map SSH usernames to different cast files. Unknown users fall back to the default section.

            

            

              
Flexible headers & footers

              
Set server-wide intro/outro sequences or override them per user. Set to "none" to disable.

            

          

        

      

    


    
    

      

        
Get started

        
Up and running in under a minute.


        

          

            
1

            
Install

            
$ cargo install tailpipe

          

          

            
2

            
Configure

            
$ vim tailpipe.toml

          

          

            
3

            
Run

            
$ tailpipe tailpipe.toml

          

          

            
4

            
Connect

            
$ ssh demo@localhost -p 4242